Saturday Good Reads

It might have been a bad week for politics (depending upon whether your candidate won or lost in the primaries) but it was a good week for poetry, including a video reading from Natasha Head, an article on Seamus Heaney’s last work, and a poem about spring (yes, spring is coming!).

There is great wailing and gnashing of teeth in Republican circles, and one day the party might figure out what happened. David From of The Atlantic has an idea. (The leadership has forgotten, and in some cases, turned its back on, the base.)

According to the BBC, we can blame the cult of celebrity worship on – Sherlock Holmes. (Actually, Beethoven was chased by screaming girls long before anyone had heard of the Beatles.)

And a wonderful poetry reading form Malcolm Guite, wise words from C.S. Lewis, and some original drawings by J.R.R. Tolkien for The Hobbit.

Poetry

Darkness Falls – Natasha Head at The Tashtoo Parlour (video).

The new release of Observations by Marianne Moore – Mary Harwell Sayler at The Poetry Editor.

Simple Poetry – Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

Spring Arrives – Kelly Chripczuk at A Field of Wild Flowers.

Seamus Heaney’s final work – ‘Death’s dark door stands open … ’ – The Guardian.

Life and Culture

On the State of the Republican Party – David From of The Atlantic via Storify.

The Old Donkey in the Empire’s Ruins – Rod Dreher at American Conservative.

Refusing to Toe the Line – Billy Coffey at What I Learned Today.

How Sherlock Holmes changed the world – Jennifer Keishin Armstrong at BBC.

Art and Photography

In Late Winter and In Late Winter Part 2: Monochrome – Tim Good at Arts by Tiwago.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Little-Known Original Drawings for the First Edition of The Hobbit – Maria Popova at Brain Pickings.

Tintern Abbey, The Transcept – J.M.W. Turner via the British Museum.

Catherine’s Light – Diane Walker at Contemplative Photography.

Daffyd Williams on the Mountain – oil on canvas by Sir Kyffin Williams (1969). Royal Academy of Arts. London.

Faith

Dante and the Companioned Journey 2: Through the Gate – Malcom Guite.

C.S. Lewis: “You have never talked to a mere mortal” – Justin Taylor at The Gospel Coalition.

Looking for Britain’s future leaders? Try evensong – John Bingham at The Telegraph.

Work

What Spaces Empower People to Collaborate? – Jon Mertz at Thin Difference.

British Stuff

Top Ten London Underground Mysteries – Londontopia.

The Trailer for Risen

Painting of Man Reading by Odon Marffy (Hungarian; 1878-1959).